Hayford Akrofi

Hayford Akrofi (January 1952 – 23 June 2014) was a Ghanian architect.

Early life and education

Akrofi came from Tutu-Akwapim Hills in the Eastern Region of Ghana. He was educated at Ghana Senior High School in Koforidua, and trained as an architect at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

Career

Akrofi's philosophy centered on designing for human needs rather than commercial gain, and he worked for Ghanian government's State Housing Corporation, whose mandate is to “increase the availability of dwelling houses in Ghana”. Akrofi's interest was pressing for the use of high-grade local materials to achieve cost efficiencies. In the mid-90s, he moved to London and, in 1998, founded HA Architectural Services. With his wife Vivienne, he founded four additional companies, all of which provided home renovation services.

Political life

From 1974 to 1976, Akofi was president of the National Union of Ghana Students, which challenged the military dictatorship of Ignatius Kutu Acheampong. He also organized the 1976 International Students Conference against Imperialist Penetration in Higher Education. In the late 1980s, Akrofi, who was also a Methodist lay preacher, was Vice President of the Movement for Peace and Democracy.

While living in the UK, Akrofi was vice-chairman of the United Kingdom and Ireland branch of the Convention People’s Party. Upon his return to Ghana c 2010, he was a spokesman of the party on the campaigns against GMOs, the 2013 Plant Breeders’ Bill of Ghana and the Environmental Protection Authority (Ghana).

Death

Akrofi was [...] at his home by a burglar on 23 June 2014.